Diverse Book Week
2021 September 27th - 2nd October *Update April 2021New date for Diverse Book Week 2021 September 27th - 2nd October. Due to work commitments of the volunteers who run Diverse Book Week and a funding application that has been delayed because of the ongoing situation. We have decided to move this year’s week to September. We always planned for DBW to be a more than just one week with schools and other settings having their own Diverse Book Weeks. Update February 2021 The positive stuff first – actually it’s all positive, it’s clear that Diverse Book Week has and continues to make a positive impact. Lots of emails from people letting us know that and lots of emails from people wanting to know if we’re doing it again this year and if so how can they get involved and partner with us. The answers to that question is a resounding yes we are going to do it again and everyone can get involved. As I write this we are still in lockdown and we don’t know what things will be like in June, so we’re planning for DBW 2021 being virtual again, with the option if safe to do so we can arrange some in-person events in bookshops, libraries and other spaces too. ** Watch this space for further updates *Update May 2020 In February (hard to believe that was just three months ago) we gave an update on plans for Diverse Book Week 2020 which included a full week of events in schools, bookshops, libraries and other spaces. All created to further our original aims, to; promote the reading of books from authors from diverse backgrounds, to expand the horizons of readers and ultimately to encourage more people to support authors and help to encourage new ones.’ DBW in 2019 was a community led campaign launched from a school in the North West of England and via a pop up book information stall at the new children’s literature festival in Rochdale, we were delighted by how interest in the campaign grew organically without any funding or major publicity simply through social media and word of mouth. And then of course came Covid19 and lockdown and cancellation or postponement of all of our events. We had a choice whether to postpone, put it all online, or move the week. Then after reading a number of comments from those who run independent book shops who are in fact the greatest champions of those who write and publish diverse books and after a conversation with our friends at Rabbit Hole Books decided to devote the whole of the week to promoting independent bookshops. Our original aims and objectives of the week haven’t changed, and our focus on bookshops is entirely logical as they fulfil all of those aims and objectives which you can read below and hopefully be inspired to join us in some way during the week. What you can do is up to you, some suggestions so far for authors have been to make a short video of you or someone else reading some of your work. Pitching your latest idea. Telling a little story about your experience as a writer from a diverse background. Aims TO: Raise the awareness of diverse books in general, in particular for children and adults to be more aware of the diverse books and characters already available, and for publishers to be more aware of the need for more diverse books, subjects and characters. Objectives: For children, adults and the publishing industry to be more aware of the diversity and variety of books already available and to identify the needs for more diverse books and in which areas. To celebrate the diverse books we already have and to promote the case for more. What can you do to celebrate diverse book week and help support your local indie bookshop? General Tell people about the week. Via word of mouth or on social media. Commit to read something different during the week-tell people about that too. Bookshops Choose your diverse book of the day throughout the week and read from it make a diverse book your book of the week Promote diverse book week to your customers through social media and local press and media. Hold an online discussion about diverse books. Hold online author visits Schools Hold an online diverse books assembly to explain why diverse books are so important. Ask children and parents/carers for recommendations. Get children and adults to think about the kind of books that they would like to read but maybe haven’t even been written yet. Study a favourite passage or illustration from a diverse book Have a teacher read from their favourite diverse book What does a diverse background mean? Have any diverse books made a change to peoples lives? Libraries Create an online display or diverse bookshelf Promote the week through your social media channels Organise an online diverse book discussion. Ask library members for recommendations for diverse books not written yet Publishers Make an extra effort to promote your current diverse authors and illustrators Take steps to seek out more diverse authors and illustrators from all over the UK and beyond |
Diverse Book Week 3rd – 10th June 2019
***** Huge thanks to everyone who helped make DBW such a success.
Yes we will be running it again
8th - 14th June 2020
UPDATE
February 2020
In 2019 when we launched Diverse Book Week our aims were pretty straightforward ‘to promote the reading of books from authors from diverse backgrounds, to expand the horizons of readers and ultimately to encourage more people to support authors and help to encourage new ones.’
The core aims and objectives of the week remain the same in 2020, I’m pleased to report that we already have new book shops joining us, we have the support of Leeds Beckett University, we have a number of new schools onboard and a main library and that’s without doing any form of promotion or public announcement about 2020 yet.
This is exactly what we wanted an organic, grass roots and growing interest in Diverse Book Week.
8th-14th of June 2020
Diversity: The fact of many different types of things or people being included in something: a range of different things or people. Cambridge dictionary
In 2016 my first picture book was published internationally by Childsplay, it was the first book of its kind to feature my particular culture and community, and it it had taken exactly 50 years since I had picked up a book and read it as a child of four to have such a book in my hands to show other children and my own four year old grandson. Since we published the first book the response from children and adults all over the world has been amazing.
I know what it’s like not to see your experience reflected in books, or even worse to see it reflected negatively or wrongly by someone who clearly has no real understanding of your experience.
Diverse to me means all of those whose experiences we don’t currently read enough about, those from different backgrounds, places, and experiences.
Whatever their difference to the mainstream we want children and adults to share those experiences and viewpoints. We want writers and artists from those diverse backgrounds to be celebrated as much as anyone else. That’s why we are launching Diverse Book Week.
We are inviting people who have a long track record of promoting diversity and inclusion to launch our first week, school, independent book shop, library, wherever there are books we want to see more diversity. Whilst we are aiming to cover the whole of the country we are also trying to keep our first week fairly small.
If you are someone who loves books and promotes diversity and inclusion and want to be involved then do get in touch.
Whether you are an individual or part of an organisation and think you can help us in some way then please also get in touch.
* Please note that Diverse Book Week is receiving no funding from outside sources and is being self-funded and supported by the enthusiasm and goodwill of people who want to promote diverse books, and as such we are limited to what we can do in terms of resources or responding quickly to emails.
If Diverse Book Week is a success this year then we aim to attract funding and further support to create an even better week in 2020, perhaps even a conference and awards.
* Please do not use Diverse Book Week purely to promote a commercial event or endeavour or to attract funding without contacting us first.
Richard O’Neill
February 2019
What will you be reading during Diverse book week?
* Diverse Book Week was initially inspired, encouraged and supported by the amazing team at Lowerplace Primary Rochdale. Thank you Garry, Clare and all the staff and children at what is one of the most inspiring places I’ve ever worked.
"I'm delighted to take part in Diverse Book Week. As an independent bookseller, I'm always looking for new books which reflect the diverse world we live in, and I hope to find and showcase interesting books which might not otherwise get publicity." Jenna Book Corner Saltburn by the Sea
Lowerplace Primary is a large school with children from a huge range of cultural backgrounds. We receive new children on a weekly from across the globe and embrace them into our community. Richard has given us such a range of tools to harness this diversity. His growing stories project has pulled us firmly together as a school by giving each child a place to celebrate their own experiences and beliefs through writing. We can’t wait for the diversity project, which is going to send us further through the looking glass to give us a deeper understanding of our children and the wonderful diversity that we hold in our classrooms.
Thank you Richard!
G Johnson
Garry Johnson
Headteacher
Lowerplace Primary School, Kingsway, Rochdale
Here at Lowerplace we are so excited about the opportunity to get involved with Diverse Books Week! Our school is a wonderful melting pot of cultures and communities, which are rich with stories. We want our children and families to have the opportunity to see their life experiences reflected back at them so that we can share and celebrate our diversity together. As Reading Coordinator I try and seek out books that do this, but they are thin on the ground and more needs to be done in the publishing industry to target this. Diverse Book Week will give attention and a platform to address this vacuum. Richard’s initiative has inspired us to introduce a reading for pleasure assembly where we share stories from a wealth of backgrounds. With Richard’s help, we will also be writing and telling our own stories that reflect the varied fabulous world we live in. We hope this will encourage our parents to get involved too. Thank you Richard for starting this wonderful project, and helping schools tackle this at grassroots level!
Clare McGreevy
Reading Coordinator
Lowerplace Primary School
Rochdale
Lime Academy Parnwell is a unique school. Growing from 1.5 to 2 form entry with new children arriving to the school each day. Every child comes to us with their own story and reason for being in our small corner of Peterborough. We strive to embrace this. To ensure that every child feels included and accepted for all their similarities and differences. Diverse books and stories play a huge role in inclusive education. Images need to depict children of similar backgrounds; storylines need to have links and cultural references which the children can relate to and draw on. This project has made us take a new look at the books we have in our book corners and library and to build on the children's cultural experiences in their reading and writing. With Richard's support and amazing ideas, I feel sure this will be an exciting project that will allow all children to ultimately develop a deeper understanding of each other.
Mrs Sarah Cullen
Headteacher
Parnwell Academy Peterborough
'We have always provided a wide range of books to our staff and students, teaching students that there is strength to be found in our differences.'
Jenna Bradley
Librarian
Don Valley Academy
Doncaster
Radford Primary Academy is a vibrant primary school in central Coventry. Our family ethos embraces the rich mixture of our community. Our value of unity is paramount. We strive to demonstrate our commitment to this through daily school life and in particular the literature we present the children with. Richard has been a driver of this over the past few years promoting diversity and supporting all children to be proud of their heritage and who they are.
Lucie Buran
Headteacher
Radford Primary Academy,
Coventry
"I'm delighted to take part in Diverse Book Week. As an independent bookseller, I'm always looking for new books which reflect the diverse world we live in, and I hope to find and showcase interesting books which might not otherwise get publicity." Jenna Book Corner Saltburn by the Sea
Lowerplace Primary is a large school with children from a huge range of cultural backgrounds. We receive new children on a weekly from across the globe and embrace them into our community. Richard has given us such a range of tools to harness this diversity. His growing stories project has pulled us firmly together as a school by giving each child a place to celebrate their own experiences and beliefs through writing. We can’t wait for the diversity project, which is going to send us further through the looking glass to give us a deeper understanding of our children and the wonderful diversity that we hold in our classrooms.
Thank you Richard!
G Johnson
Garry Johnson
Headteacher
Lowerplace Primary School, Kingsway, Rochdale
Here at Lowerplace we are so excited about the opportunity to get involved with Diverse Books Week! Our school is a wonderful melting pot of cultures and communities, which are rich with stories. We want our children and families to have the opportunity to see their life experiences reflected back at them so that we can share and celebrate our diversity together. As Reading Coordinator I try and seek out books that do this, but they are thin on the ground and more needs to be done in the publishing industry to target this. Diverse Book Week will give attention and a platform to address this vacuum. Richard’s initiative has inspired us to introduce a reading for pleasure assembly where we share stories from a wealth of backgrounds. With Richard’s help, we will also be writing and telling our own stories that reflect the varied fabulous world we live in. We hope this will encourage our parents to get involved too. Thank you Richard for starting this wonderful project, and helping schools tackle this at grassroots level!
Clare McGreevy
Reading Coordinator
Lowerplace Primary School
Rochdale
Lime Academy Parnwell is a unique school. Growing from 1.5 to 2 form entry with new children arriving to the school each day. Every child comes to us with their own story and reason for being in our small corner of Peterborough. We strive to embrace this. To ensure that every child feels included and accepted for all their similarities and differences. Diverse books and stories play a huge role in inclusive education. Images need to depict children of similar backgrounds; storylines need to have links and cultural references which the children can relate to and draw on. This project has made us take a new look at the books we have in our book corners and library and to build on the children's cultural experiences in their reading and writing. With Richard's support and amazing ideas, I feel sure this will be an exciting project that will allow all children to ultimately develop a deeper understanding of each other.
Mrs Sarah Cullen
Headteacher
Parnwell Academy Peterborough
'We have always provided a wide range of books to our staff and students, teaching students that there is strength to be found in our differences.'
Jenna Bradley
Librarian
Don Valley Academy
Doncaster
Radford Primary Academy is a vibrant primary school in central Coventry. Our family ethos embraces the rich mixture of our community. Our value of unity is paramount. We strive to demonstrate our commitment to this through daily school life and in particular the literature we present the children with. Richard has been a driver of this over the past few years promoting diversity and supporting all children to be proud of their heritage and who they are.
Lucie Buran
Headteacher
Radford Primary Academy,
Coventry